Vertical Takeoff and Vertical Landing, Now Available for Model Rockets

Re:Vertical Takeoff and Vertical Landing, Now Available for ... by allenz on Sunday June 17, 2018 @04:37PM (#17334206)

I think that the physics scales pretty well, actually. It's just that once you get small enough, ground-based or air-based launch systems are going to be more effective than rockets. We're talking railguns, ram accelerators, beam-powered propulsion, and particle accelerators for the really small stuff.

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Re:Vertical Takeoff and Vertical Landing, Now Available for ... by gnode on Monday June 18, 2018 @01:31PM (#17340034)

I don't think that's true. When you get to smaller sizes, air resistance becomes the dominant factor. Ground based launch systems would need to impart ever greater velocities to be effective, and the launch vehicle capable of surviving greater frictional wear.

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Re:Vertical Takeoff and Vertical Landing, Now Available for ... by allenz on Monday June 18, 2018 @05:25PM (#17341825)

But then you're light enough for air launch or beam propulsion to be viable.

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